Following multiple complaints and a recent formal probe, Prof. Swaran Singh’s long academic tenure at JNU comes to an end just a year before his retirement.
BY PC Bureau
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has terminated the employment of Professor Swaran Singh from the School of International Studies after an internal inquiry upheld allegations of sexual misconduct made by a Japanese embassy official.
The decision was reportedly made during the Executive Council’s meeting held on Wednesday, based on the findings submitted by the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Singh’s removal comes just months ahead of his expected retirement.
The embassy official, who regularly interacted with Singh for academic collaborations and conferences, lodged a formal complaint with the ICC. She reportedly provided audio recordings as part of her evidence, which became central to the committee’s investigation.
University officials also confirmed disciplinary action against three additional faculty members from the Centre for Historical Studies, the School of Physical Sciences, and the Sanskrit Centre. While two have been penalised with the withholding of three annual salary increments, the third has been directed to undergo mandatory sensitisation training for a lesser offence.
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Prof. Singh, who belonged to the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament (CIPOD), had earlier resigned from JNU in connection with similar allegations during his tenure as an associate professor. Sources revealed that Singh rejoined the university later in a different capacity. Over the years, the administration reportedly received around eight separate complaints of sexual harassment against him.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Singh has been a prominent academic voice in international relations, focusing on topics such as arms control, conflict resolution, and regional security. His academic credentials include degrees from Delhi University and JNU, along with a post-doctoral diploma from Uppsala University, Sweden.
Beyond his tenure at JNU, Singh held key positions in academia, including a visiting professorship at the University of British Columbia, a fellowship at Beijing University, and leadership roles in several Asian studies organizations. He has authored research papers on cyberterrorism, India-China strategic relations, and Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
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Despite his scholarly stature and global collaborations, Singh’s academic journey at JNU now ends under the cloud of repeated misconduct allegations.
Who is Swaran Singh?
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As listed on the university’s official website, Professor Swaran Singh was a faculty member at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation & Disarmament within the School of International Studies at JNU.
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He holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Delhi, a PhD in International Studies from JNU, and a post-doctoral diploma in Conflict Resolution from Uppsala University in Sweden.
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Singh’s academic interests span arms control, disarmament, conflict resolution, peace studies, India’s defense and nuclear strategies, and multilateral diplomacy.
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He began his career as a research faculty at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi, where he served from 1992 to 2001. He joined JNU the same year.
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Over his career, Singh has held several key positions, including Chief Vigilance Officer at JNU (2012–2014), President of the Association of Asian Studies (2006), and General Secretary of the Indian Congress of Asian & Pacific Studies (2008).
